Support for a reel core

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a support for a roll or reel core which is folded or erected from a unitary blank which has been scored or cut to provide fold lines in a unique pattern on the blank. The fold lines permit the blank to be erected into a reinforced, multilayer support for the core on which flexible material is rolled, one of the supports being used at each end of the roll core.

D United States Patent 1 3,635,422 Ellson 51 Jan. 18, 1972 [5 SUPPORT FOR A REEL CORE References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS [72] Inventor: Lloyd W. Ellson, Indianapolis, Ind. 3 059 765 10/1962 Ef d 2 2/ iri ..4 118.8X 1 Assignw lnlandr 93 Corporation, lndl- 3,521,833 7/1970 Ridgeway et al ..242/1 18.61

anapo is, n 2 d: D 10 1969 Primary Examiner-George F. Mautz 2] cc AttarneyWoodard, Weikart, Emhardt & Naughton [2]] Appl. No.: 883,913

[57] ABSTRACT Disclosed is a support for a roll or reel core which is folded or [212] (Si erected from a unitary blank which has been scored or cut to i 6 H 8 61 provide fold lines in a unique pattern on the blank. The fold lines permit the blank to be erected into a reinforced, multilayer support for the core on which flexible material is rolled, one of the supports being used at each end of the roll core.

3 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJANIEBM $35,422 SHEETlUFZ I WMAH I I INVENTOR LLOYD W ELLSON DBDAMM mgfmmii vln mn ATTORNEYS SUPPORT FOR A REEL CORE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In packaging rolls or reels of flexible material, the loaded core, extending between two, generally planar, end support members is, customarily, placed within an exterior container and this provides the necessary protection of the rolled material during transport and storage. Such rolled product may be of relatively heavy unit weight and the rolls may carry large amounts of the material.

The concept of the present invention provides a reinforced support member for a reel core, particularly strengthened at the area directly engaging the core, which can be folded or erected from a unitary blank of a material such as corrugated fiberboard.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 illustrates the blank from which a core support embodying the present invention may be erected.

FIG. 2 is a side view fragmentarily showing the blank of FIG. 1 partially erected.

FIG. 3 is an endview of the blank of FIGS. 1 and 2 when completely erected.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 4 but showing a metallic cup-shaped member within the assembly.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a modified form of the construction.

FIG. 7 illustrates a blank from which a modified form of the present invention may be erected.

FIG. 8 is a side view of a core support erected from the.

blank of FIG. 7. l

FIG. 9 illustrates a blank from which afurther modified form of the invention may be erected.

FIG. 10 is a side view of a core support erected from the blank of FIG. 9.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring initially to FIG. 1, a generally rectangular, one piece blank is illustrated and the blank is preferably formed of corrugated fiberboard having the corrugations extending horizontally as indicated at 10 where a portion of the outer liner of the corrugated board is shown broken away. The blank has side margins 11 and 12 and end margins 13 and 14. Rectilinear fold lines 16, 17, 18 and 19 extend across four comer areas of the blank to define corner flaps 16a, 17a, 18a and 19a respectively. It will be understood that the fold lines might be formed by scoring, intermittent slitting, perforating the corrugated board and the term fold line" is used in an inelusive sense to refer to all such similar means of forming a definite line on which the blank may be conveniently folded. As will be evident from FIG. I the corner fold lines intersect, as indicated at 21 and 22, on the respective outer end margins 13 and 14 ofthe blank.

The blank is further provided with diagonal, intersecting fold lines 23 and 24 which extend from the side margin terminus of each corner fold line to the diagonally opposite side margin terminus of a corner fold line, these side margin limits of the diagonal fold line 23 being indicated at 26 and 27 and the side margin termini of the diagonal fold line 24 being indicated at 28 and 29. A central fold line 31 extends between the side margins 11 and 12 of the blank and bisects the opposite angles formed by the diagonal intersecting fold lines 23 and 24. The fold line 21 may be formed by cutting through one of the liner components and the flute component leaving hinge on which the blank may be folded. The fold line 31 defines four generally triangular blank portions 32, 33, 34, and 35 which extend between the central fold line 31 and the diagonal fold lines 23 and 24. Two central polygonal areas 37 and 38 are defined by the diagonal and the corner fold lines and each ofthese portions 37 and 38 are provided with a coresupporting aperture 37a and 38a, respectively, and, these are centered so that when the blank is folded along the central line 31 the apertures 37a and 38a will be in register.

At the free tip areas of each of the corner flaps the blank is cut away as indicated at 16b, 17b, 18b and 19b, the cutaway portions each taking the form of a circular segment having a length of arc of substantially 90 and a radius substantially equal to the radius of the core-supporting apertures 37a and 38a. Cutaway portions are also formed at the intersection of the centralfold line 31 with the side margins 11 and 12 of the blank, the curved margin of these cutaway portions being indicated at 41 and 42. These side margin cutaway portions also take the form of a circular segment but have a length of arc of substantially l and a radius substantially equal to the radius of the core-supporting apertures 37a and 38a.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the core support may be erected from the blank of FIG. 1, by folding each of the corner flaps inwardly along its respective corner fold line, the corner flaps for the portion 37 being shown approaching their folded orflattenedposition in FIG. 2. As will also be evident from FIG. 2 the central fold line 31 is folded upon itself from its midpoint 31c. This moves the triangular portions 32 and 34 into overlying relationwith respect to tlhe face 37. The other portion of the blank including the polygonal area 38 and its comer flaps 18a and 19a are similarly folded and the triangular portions 33 and 35 are brought into overlying relation with the triangular portions 32 and 34 respectively, with the corner flaps 18a and 19a overlying the corner flaps 16a and 17a respectively. When folded and flattened, the curved lines 16b, 17b, 41, 42, 18b and 19b encircle and register with the coresupporting apertures 37a and 38a. FlG. 4 illustrates this erected and flattened condition of the blank which completes formation of the core support. The opening formed by the registering apertures 37a and 38a is adapted to accommodate the core member (not shown) on which material is rolled and, it will be understood, one of the core supports is utilized at each end of the core member. As shown in FIG. 2 the corrugations, illustrated at 51, since they are parallel to the blank side margins 11 and 12, all extend chordally with relation to the core-supporting aperture and in any position of the core support member, the portion of the aperture on which the core bears has its corrugations chordal to the core, never tangential to the core, and thus maximum strength at the core support aperture is obtained. 1 Referring specifically to FIG. 5, the assembly described with reference to FIGS. 14 may include a flaznged, cup-shaped, in start 52. The flanged portion 52a of the insert engages the outer face of the polygonal member 38 and its body portion extends through the adjacent core-supporting aperture 37a and 38a. This insert addition to the assembly may be utilized by inserting the extending body portion of the insert into the hollow center of hollow body portion 011 the core. The insert 52 may be utilized as a socket for the core and, in this case, the core extends into the body of the insert 52.

FIG. 6 discloses a further somewhat modified form of the assembly referred to with respect to FIGS. 14. FIG. 6 illustrates a fragmentary sectional view of an assembly in which the central polygonal areas 37 and 38 and their corresponding core-supporting apertures 37a and 38a are identical to those previously described but, in which, however, the corner flaps (indicated at 61 and 62 in FIG. 6) differ from the correspond ing corner flaps 16a, 17a, 18a and 19a of FIG. 1 in that the eutout portions 61a and 620 have a somewhat decreased radius as compared to their counterpart of FIG. 1 and as compared to the radius of the core-supporting apertures 37a and 38a.

- When so modified, it will be apparent from FIG. 6 that pordefined by the registering apertures 37a and 38a and, when a core (not shown) supporting a roll of material is inserted in the aperture 38a, for example, and moved through the aperture 37a, the extending portions 61b and 62b will be wedged against the core and will serve to resist its withdrawal from the core support aperture, this tending to make more rigid the complete assembly of core and core support.

Referring now to FIG. 7, a modified form of the structure will be disclosed in which, as will be evident from FIG. 8, the erected configuration of the support difiers somewhat from that of FIGS. l-4. As may be seen in FIG. 7 the generally rectangular blank has side margins 63 and 64 and end margins 66 and 67. Comer fold lines 68, 69, 71 and 72 define corner flaps 68a, 69a, 71a and 72a respectively, the comer fold lines extending between adjacent side and end margins of the blank. The blank is also provided with intersecting diagonal fold lines 73 and 74 which, with the corner fold lines, define polygonal central areas 76 and 77. A central fold line 78 (comparable to the central fold line 31 of FIG. 1) extends between the side margins 63 and 64 of the blank and bisects the opposite angles formed at the intersection of the diagonal fold lines 73 and 74. Eachof the central portions 76 and 77 are provided with a circular, core-supporting aperture 76a and 77a respectively and these apertures are positioned so that they will be in register when the portion 77 is moved into congruent, overlying relation with respect to the portion 76. The tip portions of the flaps 69a and 72a are cut away as indicated at 69b and 72b, and the area at the intersection of the central fold line 78 and the side margin 64 is cut away as indicated at 78a. The intersection of the fold line 78 with the side margin 63 of the blank is also cut awayas indicated at 79 and the radius of the arcuate portions of the cutaway sections have substantially the same radius as the core-supporting apertures 76a and 77a.

To erect the blank of FIG. 7 to the form shown in FIG. 8 the corner flaps are folded inwardly and the central fold line 78 is folded upon itself from its midpoint thus placing the central portions 76 and 77 in congruent overlying relation with the curved portions of the cutout areas encircling the core-supporting apertures in the members 76 and 77 The configuration described with reference to FIG. 7 and 8 may be utilized wherever it is desirable to have the outline of the erected support member nonsymmetrical about the center of the core support apertures.

Referring to FIG. 9 and a further modified form of the structure is illustrated and this differs from the structure described previously primarily in that the contour of the support member, after erection, is octagonal, rather than rectangular. The blank of FIG. 9 has end margins 81 and 82 and side margins 83 and 84. The corners of the blank have extending diagonally across them the corner fold lines 86, 87, 88 and 89, and diagonal, intersecting fold lines 91 and 92 extend centrally across the blank between the side margins 83 and 84. A central fold line 93 extends between the side margins. Two central portions 94 and 96 are defined by the comer fold lines and the diagonal fold lines.

At the end margins 81 and 82, adjacent the intersection of the corner fold lines the blank is provided with rectangular cutaway portions 94a and 96a and a central rectangular portion 95 is cut from the blank at the intersection of the diagonal fold lines 91 and 92. On the side margins adjacent the intersection of the corner fold lines and the diagonal fold lines are further cutaway portions 97, 98, 99 and 101. Adjacent the intersection of the central fold line 93 with the side margins 83 and 84 are semicircular cutaway portions 104 and 105 and on each corner flap are arcuate cutaway portions 102, 103, 106 and 107. Centrally in the portions 96 and 94 are core-supporting apertures 109 and 108 which are adapted to register with each other when the portions 94 and 96 are in congruent, overlying relation.

1n erecting the blank to the form shown in FIG. 10 the comer flaps are folded inwardly. The central fold line 93 is folded upon itself at its midpoint and the triangular portions on each side of the fold line 93 overlie the appropriate central members 94 and 96. As will be evident from FIG. 10 the erected blank is octagonal in configuration with the core-supporting apertures 109 and 108 in register. When so erected the curved portions 102, 103, 104, 105, 106 and 107 encircle the registering apertures 108 and 109.

I claim:

1. A support for a reel core or the like which is erected by a one-piece blank, said blank being generally rectangular in configuration, a rectilinear fold line extending across each of the comer areas of the blank to define corner flaps with the adjacent corner fold lines intersecting at the opposite outer end margins of the blank, diagonal intersecting fold lines extending from the side margin terminus of each corner fold line to the diagonally opposite side margin terminus of a corner fold line, a central fold line extending between the side margins of the blank and bisecting the opposite angles formed by said diagonal intersecting fold lines and defining four generally triangular blank portions between said central fold line and said diagonal fold lines, the two central polygonal areas formed by said diagonal and corner fold lines each having a core-supporting aperture therein with said apertures being relatively disposed so as to be in register when said central polygonal areas are folded into congruent overlying relation, said blank being erected to form said support by folding each of said comer flaps inwardly and folding said central fold line upon itself from its midpoint to thereby place said central polygonal areas into congruent relation spaced from each other by said inwardly folded comer.

2. A support for a reel core or the like which is erected by folding a one-piece blank, said blank being generally rectangular in configuration, a rectilinear fold line extending across each of the corner areas of the blank to define corner flaps with the adjacent corner fold lines intersecting at the opposite outer end margins of the blank, diagonal intersecting fold lines extending from the side margin terminus of each comer fold line to the diagonally opposite side margin terminus of a comer fold line, a central fold line extending between the side margins of the blank and bisecting the opposite angles formed by said diagonal intersecting fold lines and defining four generally triangular blank portions between said central fold line and said diagonal fold lines, the two central polygonal areas formed by said diagonal and comer fold lines each having a core-supporting aperture therein with said apertures being relatively disposed so as to be in register when said central polygonal areas are folded into congruent overlying relation, said blank being erected to form said support by folding each of said corner flaps inwardly and folding said central fold line upon itself from its midpoint to thereby place said central polygonal areas into congruent relation spaced from each other by said inwardly folded corner flaps and by said triangular portions, said core-supporting apertures being circular, portions of said blank being cut away at the free tip areas of each of said comer flaps and at the intersection of said central fold line with both side margins of said blank, said comer flap cutaway portions each taking the form of a circular segment having a length of arc of substantially and a radius less than the radius of said core-supporting apertures, said side margin cutaway portions each taking the form of a circular segment having a length of arc of substantially and a radius less than the radius of said core-supporting apertures, whereby the arcuate margins of said cutaway portions encircle and register with said core-supporting apertures when the blank is erected, the portions of the blank overhanging said core support apertures being wedged into one of the core support apertures upon insertion of a reel core therein.

3. A support for.a reel core or the like which is erected by folding a one-piece blank, said blank being generally rectangular in configuration, a rectilinear fold line extending across each of the comer areas of the blank to define comer flaps with the adjacent comer fold lines intersecting at the opposite outer end margins of the blank, diagonal intersecting fold lines extending from the side margin terminus of each corner fold line to the diagonally opposite side margin terminus of a comer fold line, a central fold line extending between the side margins of the blank and bisecting the opposite angles formed by said diagonal intersecting fold lines and defining four generally triangular blank portions between said central fold line and said diagonal fold lines, the two central polygonal areas formed by said diagonal and comer fold lines each having a core-supporting aperture therein with said apertures being relatively disposed so as to be in register when said central polygonal areas are folded into congruent overlying relation, said blank being erected to form said support by folding each of said comer flaps inwardly and folding said central fold line upon itself from its midpoint to thereby place said central polygonal areas into congruent relation spaced from each other by said inwardly folded corner flaps and by said triangula: portions, portions of said blank being cut away at the free tip areas of each of said corner flaps and at the intersection of said central fold line with both side margins of said blank, said comer flap cutaway portions each having a depth less than the circumscribed circle radius of said core-supporting apertures, said side margin cutaway portions each a depth less than the circumscribed circle radius of said core-supporting apertures, whereby the margins of said cutaway portions enclose and register with said core-supporting apertures when the blank is erected, the portions of the blank overhanging said core support apertures being wedged into one of the core support apertures upon insertion of a reel core therein.

l =0 l 5 t! 

1. A support for a reel core or the like which is erected by a one-piece blank, said blank being generally rectangular in configuration, a rectilinear fold line extending across each of the corner areas of the blank to define corner flaps with the adjacent corner fold lines intersecting at the opposite outer end margins of the blank, diagonal intersecting fold lines extending from the side margin terminus of each corner fold line to the diagonally opposite side margin terminus of a corner fold line, a central fold line extending between the side margins of the blank and bisecting the opposite angles formed by said diagonal intersecting fold lines and defining four generally triangular blank portions between said central fold line and said diagonal fold lines, the two central polygonal areas formed by said diagonal and corner fold lines each having a core-supporting aperture therein with said apertures being relatively disposed so as to be in register when said central polygonal areas are folded into congruent overlying relation, said blank being erected to form said support by folding each of said corner flaps inwardly and folding said central fold line upon itself from its midpoint to thereby place said central polygonal areas into congruent relation spaced from each other by said inwardly folded corner.
 2. A support for a reel core or the like which is erected by folding a one-piece blank, said blank being generally rectangular in configuration, a rectilinear fold line extending across each of the corner areas of the blank to define corner flaps with the adjacent corner fold lines intersecting at the opposite outer end margins of the blank, diagonal intersecting fold lines extending from the side margin terminus of each corner fold line to the diagonally opposite side margin terminus of a corner fold line, a central fold line extending between the side margins of the blank and biSecting the opposite angles formed by said diagonal intersecting fold lines and defining four generally triangular blank portions between said central fold line and said diagonal fold lines, the two central polygonal areas formed by said diagonal and corner fold lines each having a core-supporting aperture therein with said apertures being relatively disposed so as to be in register when said central polygonal areas are folded into congruent overlying relation, said blank being erected to form said support by folding each of said corner flaps inwardly and folding said central fold line upon itself from its midpoint to thereby place said central polygonal areas into congruent relation spaced from each other by said inwardly folded corner flaps and by said triangular portions, said core-supporting apertures being circular, portions of said blank being cut away at the free tip areas of each of said corner flaps and at the intersection of said central fold line with both side margins of said blank, said corner flap cutaway portions each taking the form of a circular segment having a length of arc of substantially 90* and a radius less than the radius of said core-supporting apertures, said side margin cutaway portions each taking the form of a circular segment having a length of arc of substantially 180* and a radius less than the radius of said core-supporting apertures, whereby the arcuate margins of said cutaway portions encircle and register with said core-supporting apertures when the blank is erected, the portions of the blank overhanging said core support apertures being wedged into one of the core support apertures upon insertion of a reel core therein.
 3. A support for a reel core or the like which is erected by folding a one-piece blank, said blank being generally rectangular in configuration, a rectilinear fold line extending across each of the corner areas of the blank to define corner flaps with the adjacent corner fold lines intersecting at the opposite outer end margins of the blank, diagonal intersecting fold lines extending from the side margin terminus of each corner fold line to the diagonally opposite side margin terminus of a corner fold line, a central fold line extending between the side margins of the blank and bisecting the opposite angles formed by said diagonal intersecting fold lines and defining four generally triangular blank portions between said central fold line and said diagonal fold lines, the two central polygonal areas formed by said diagonal and corner fold lines each having a core-supporting aperture therein with said apertures being relatively disposed so as to be in register when said central polygonal areas are folded into congruent overlying relation, said blank being erected to form said support by folding each of said corner flaps inwardly and folding said central fold line upon itself from its midpoint to thereby place said central polygonal areas into congruent relation spaced from each other by said inwardly folded corner flaps and by said triangular portions, portions of said blank being cut away at the free tip areas of each of said corner flaps and at the intersection of said central fold line with both side margins of said blank, said corner flap cutaway portions each having a depth less than the circumscribed circle radius of said core-supporting apertures, said side margin cutaway portions each a depth less than the circumscribed circle radius of said core-supporting apertures, whereby the margins of said cutaway portions enclose and register with said core-supporting apertures when the blank is erected, the portions of the blank overhanging said core support apertures being wedged into one of the core support apertures upon insertion of a reel core therein. 